A lot of parents have inquired about 1-1 or small group training for their child. There are many local basketball trainers as well as trainers that work on improving a player’s physical attributes such as: strength, quickness and conditioning. A few key areas to note when it comes to individual training:

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Identifying the goals of your training

1. Have a conversation with your child and determine the specific goals of the training sessions. I recommend meeting with the trainer beforehand to share your goals and make sure your goals are compatible with the trainer’s skill set.  

2. I cannot emphasize enough to parents, especially parents of middle and high school players, that these goals should coincide with their role on those teams. Only 3.4% of high school basketball players continue playing in college, so for most players, maximizing their role on their middle or high school teams will help them get the most out of their trainings.

Selecting a trainer

1. First, search for a trainer that is experienced and has good recommendations. Trainers should be knowledgeable, have playing and/or coaching experience and be familiar working with the age and skill level of your child.

2. Your child should have a personalized program based on their goals. Many trainers do similar workouts regardless of the age and skill of the child. A good trainer will assess your child’s skills and create a workout program based on your child’s goals. The goals should improve their weaknesses and continue to develop their strengths. The program also should be clear and concise so that your child can continue to develop on their own from the drills taught at the training sessions. Players should have homework!

3. The skills being taught should be transferrable to games. Players don’t dribble 15 times in a game before shooting, so a trainer that is teaching moves like that won’t help your child improve in game situations. Trainers should also be teaching defense!

4. Training should be a positive experience, so look for trainers who are positive and create a culture of hard work while communicating clearly and positively with your child.
    

Once you select a trainer

1. I recommend trying one session with the trainer before you sign up for a larger package. If that first session goes well and everyone agrees to continue the workout, create a plan and schedule with the trainer. Be sure to ask questions so everyone understands each other’s expectations.
    

Once you begin your trainings

1. Assess the goals you created and make sure the trainer is working towards those goals.  Ideally, goals should be measurable, and that is much easier when working with a strength and training coach. For a coach that is focused on basketball skills, progress should be visible after your first set of sessions.

2. Measuring and tracking results are important to ensure that the trainings are beneficial and growth is occurring. This should include regular check-ins between sessions and regular assessments that are aligned with the goals agreed upon between the trainer and family.

 

In conclusion, a good trainer can definitely improve your child’s success as a player. If you have any additional questions about training, do not hesitate to reach out.

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